Some House Republicans are moving to force a vote on DACA. SoCal Republicans should join them.

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Protestors make their way to to Rep. Steve Knight’s office in Santa Clarita, CA., as Part of National Week of Action in Response to Congress’ Failure to Protect Dreamers and All Immigrants on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (Andy Holzman for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Editor’s note: Breaking views are thoughts from individual members of the editorial board on today’s headlines.

A group of Republicans in the House of Representatives are seeking to force a vote on a legislative fix for DACA.

At least 17 Republican lawmakers in total have signed onto the effort as of Wednesday afternoon, with Republican Reps. Will Hurd of Texas, Jeff Denham of California and Carlos Curbelo of Florida leading the effort.

If all Democrats in the House and eight more Republicans sign onto the discharge petition, it could finally force a vote on legislation to provide a permanent solution to the DACA issue, over the objections of House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has refused to schedule a vote on the matter.

Fundamentally, protecting people brought here as minors is the right thing to do and the pragmatic thing to do. We’ve already educated them in American schools, we’ve already integrated them into our economy. Squandering their talents and potential doesn’t serve the best interests of the country.

The longer Congress drags its feet on this issue, the more obviously absurd it is that the issue hasn’t already been resolved, especially considering that a large majority of Americans want a DACA fix which allows those qualifying individuals to stay and be able to become citizens.

“If we do nothing, we abdicate our responsibility to the Executive and Judiciary branches, who continue to shape immigration policy when they have no authority to do so,” argues Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, who signed onto the petition. “This is not about any one particular bill. It’s about transparency, accountability, and fulfilling our Article One responsibility to create sensible immigration laws.”

If successful, the move could force consideration of four bills, including the Dream Act of 2017, which would provide for a path to citizenship, and the USA Act which would protect DACA recipients and provide additional border security measures.

Considering that a DACA fix is inevitable, that a DACA fix is the pragmatic and just thing to do, and that failure to vote on or even consider perfectly reasonable DACA fixes is just an abdication of congressional responsibility, I hope at least a few Southern California Republicans join the effort to force a vote.

Alas, given how much of the Republican base has worked itself up into a frenzy over illegal immigration, I wouldn’t be surprised to see most choose political expediency over doing what’s right for the country.

Sal Rodriguez is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group. He may be reached at salrodriguez@scng.com